STUDENT VOICE | Page 25

SPECIAL FEATURE TIPS AND TRICKS FOR STUDENTS MOBILE PHONE DEALS Mobile phone contracts aren’t cheap but sometimes that’s the only way to get your hands on some of the latest mobile phones on the market, as paying for them up front will cost you an arm and a leg. Before jumping into a contract compare the prices and packages offered by the different networks. If you know what phone you want to get, check out which network will give you the best deal. Also, look at the extra perks you can get with having a contract with a certain network. For example, EE (which includes Orange and T-Mobile) offers 2 for 1 Wednesdays, which gives you 2 for 1 cinema tickets at participating movie theatres. Another example is O2 Priority, which gives you exclusive, pre-sale tickets to some of the biggest gigs and live events and more. What if you’re happy with the phone you have? Why not look at SIM only contracts? SIM only deals come with shorter contracts than those with a phone bundled in and some THE STUDENT VOICE: EDITION 3 networks have some great deals going on. There are 30 day rolling contracts available so you’re not tied to anything long term, this also allows you to switch networks easily if a better deal becomes available. ...there are many great offers available online and not just from the big networks. If you’d rather top up whenever you need to, then Pay As You Go plans are probably best for you. No contracts to sign, just pay as you go, as the name suggests. There are many great offers available online and not just from the big networks. GiffGaff currently offers a great deal for £12, which gives you unlimited data. If you use the Internet a lot while you’re on the go.This is a great bargain to snap up. STUDY TIPS Don’t leave things to the last minute This can happen if you don’t plan things. Or when you’re given an assignment that isn’t due for a few weeks and you think, “I’ll have plenty of time to do that”. You’re given that much time because the assignment requires some planning and preparation, which means it will take you more than one night to do. Use your time wisely and don’t cram. Why not do the assignment in stages? If there are many sections to the assignment why not tackle it a section at a time? This will lighten the load a bit. Plan a study schedule It may sound naff but plan your study time. As well as that, set a goal for that study period. For example, if you’re learning a language, aim to learn so many words within that study session. If it’s a law subject, memorise the top 5 court cases related to the current law topic being covered. 25